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Much has been written about fresh expressions – what they are, and how to start them up. But not so much has been written about sustainability. Having started a fresh expression, how do we keep it going?

Lots of prayer, thought and energy goes into starting something new – but what happens when energy fades, when hurdles are faced, when enthusiasm and best intentions dissipate, when money runs out and when people stop praying? You probably know of lots of worthy projects that started well, but withered away through weariness and other reasons.

So, how do we build sustainability into our fresh expressions? That is what this section is about. Arguably it is one of the most important sections of the guide, which makes it ironic that it is also currently the shortest.

Here is our first shot at sharing some wisdom on sustainability: Sustaining a fresh expression

But this is far from the last word, and there are almost certainly other themes that we should address. So we need your help.

• What have you learnt about sustainability from your own experience – from triumphs to botches? After reading the material in this section, would you want to say something like: 'No, it's not like that', 'That's far too simplistic' or 'From my own experience, it's really like this...'
• What other themes should this section contain?
• Would you be willing to help us write any of these themes?

Please comment in the space below or in the space at the end of 'Sustaining a fresh expression'.